Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Status of Development of Inland Waterways in the Country
The Government is working to develop inland waterways as an alternative mode of transport in the country, which is cleaner and cheaper than both road and rail transport. There are 111 National Waterways in the country today, after 106 waterways were declared as National Waterways, adding to the list of 5 existing NW, in 2016.
Some of the National Waterways in the country are already operational/ navigable and are being used for transportation. These are detailed in the following table:
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Sl. No.
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National Waterway No.
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Length 
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Location 
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1.
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National Waterway-1: Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System 
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1620
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Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal
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2.
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National Waterway 2:Brahmaputra River 
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891
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Assam
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3.
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National Waterway 3:West Coast Canal , Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals
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205
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Kerala
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4.
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National Waterway 4

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82
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Andhra Pradesh
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5.
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National Waterways in Maharashtra
i)National Waterway 10 
ii)National Waterway 85 
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45
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Maharashtra
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31
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6.
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National Waterways in Goa
i) NW-27-Cumberjua – confluence with Zuari to confluence with Mandovi river 
ii) NW 68 – Mandovi– Usgaon Bridge to Arabian Sea 
iii) NW 111 – Zuari– Sanvordem Bridge to Marmugao Port .
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17
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Goa
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41
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50
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7.
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NW – 9: Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal Boat Jetty, Alappuzha to Athirampuzha  in Kerala.
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38
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Kerala
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8.
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NW-100: TAPI RIVER
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173
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Gujarat
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9.
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NW-97: Sunderbans Waterways
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201
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West Bengal

The Inland Waterways Authority of India  is working on developing the new National Waterways and enhancing their navigational potential. The development work is preceded by a feasibility study which inter-alia covers the potential of navigability, cargo availability, cost of development etc.of the NW concerned. Work is then initiated on waterways that are found feasible for development. As per the feasibility reports completed so far, 36 NWs have been found to be technically viable. Out of these 36 NWs, developmental activities have been initiated on the following 8 NWs in 2017-18.
LIST OF 8 NWS TAKEN UP FOR DEVELOPMENT IN 2017-18
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National Waterway
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Status
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- River Barak :
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Under Phase -1, the stretch between Silchar to Bhanga  has been taken up for development. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility.
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- River Gandak : Bhaisalotan Barrage near TriveniGhat to confluence with Ganga river at Hajipur in Bihar and UP.
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Development works commenced from Ganga confluence to Bagaha Bridge  under Phase-1.
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National Waterways in Goa
- NW-27-Cumberjua – confluence with Zuari to confluence with Mandovi river 
- NW 68 – Mandovi– Usgaon Bridge to Arabian Sea 
5. NW 111 – Zuari– Sanvordem Bridge to Marmugao Port .
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Development works for expansion / setting up of floating jetties and upgradation/ installation of navigational aids is underway. NWs of Goa are operational.
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6. Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal  :Boat Jetty, Alappuzha to Athirampuzha  in Kerala.
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Development work in the Alappuzha – Kottayam stretchhas commenced under Phase-1 for cargo movement. Waterway is already operational for ferry services.
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7. River Rupnarayan : Confluence of Dwarkeshwar and Silai rivers  to confluence with Hooghly river   in West Bengal.
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Approximately 34 kms between Geonkhali to Kolaghat stretch has been taken up for development under Phase-I.
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8. Sunderbans Waterways : Namkhana to AtharaBanki Khal & 13 connected rivers  in West Bengal.
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Phase-I development work of this NW from Namkhana to Athara Banki Khal has been taken up. NW is already operational under Indo-Bangladesh Protocol  route.
IWAI has set up a mechanism to monitor the waterway through regular surveys and channel inspection. Regular fortnightly hydrographic surveys are conducted to determine the available depth and possible shoal formations in the channel and to notify the obstructions, clearances available at cross structures. A constant vigil is kept on the river behavior and plans accordingly to ensure fairway for safe movement of vessels. Based on the observation during channel inspection, River Notices are issued and placed on the IWAI website with details on Least Available Depth , clearances at bridge structures etc. along with any specific information to be conveyed to shippers.